“Are you sure you can trust us this easily?” Winter asked, Her back leaning against a wall.

Ahead of her was a grand, spacious hall filled with high-tech devices and such but surprisingly scarce of human life. The number of people that could be spotted running around didn't number more than ten, at the maximum.

And just at her side, was a large canopy accomodating a certain blue-haired girl. Said girl who remained silent for a while before answering.

“ ‘Humans aren't our enemies. Monsters are!’ ” Lia exclaimed with fake fervor, a smile on her face. “...That's my family's motto.”

Not knowing how to respond, Winter looked at the girl quizically.

“I believe it would be unwise of me to fight you with the situation as it is.” Lia continued, focusing her eye on one specific individual at the other end of the room. “Plus, whether it be back then or even now, I can't seem to consider that girl as a villain.”

Winter shortly followed the girl's gaze which was stuck on Rin's back. “...Is that so.” She replied with a wry smile. Trusting someone wasn't something she was familiar with. Were it not for the precognition she had, she would have never talked to Rin.

However, she also knew that being alone wasn't going to help her.

‘...Just three years ago, I would have never proceeded like this.’ Precisely because of the thing she had gone through, she knew that trust was necessary for her to advance.

That's why she put in the effort to trust Rin and to make Rin trust her.

“And you too.” Lia resumed, this time turning toward Winter. “My instinct tells me you're a good girl.”

“I see...” Following on with that, to proceed forward even a little more smoothly, she also decided to believe in Lia and her friend. “Then I'll do my best to respond your trust.”

Winter extended her hand toward Lia as a gesture of goodwill. However, before the blue-haired girl could reciprocate the handshake, the entire place became darker all of a sudden.

The room they were at being Talia city's Ark headquarter proved that every person present, few as they were, were Elite. Nevertheless, all could feel a chill run down their spine right at that very moment.

Except for Lia, who immediately directed her gaze back at Rin. Specifically, on the person facing Rin, Raven. What she saw, however, wasn't an angry expression like the atmosphere suggested, but a frustrated one.

“Mmmmmmm” The little black-haired girl moaned in dissatisfaction as she glared at the person in front of her. “....bully.”

Rin being the recipient of the 'insult', had a complicated expression on her face. Thankfully, her nano-mask was on, preventing anyone from ever witnessing it.

“...cute.” Unfortunately though, the word she didn't want to transmit still got out of her mouth.

What are they doing, you might ask.

Playing chess.

Rin as the white and Raven as the black. And, in a splendid display of skill, the white had won. Which was the proponent to the black's sulky mood. Leading to a pang of small guilt inside Rin's heart to rise.

Of course, she knew that treating her as a bully was far-fetched since she played fairly and seriously. And from what she saw, Raven wasn't a newbie at all. She was very much experienced. Meaning that the younger girl was just being a sore loser.

However, Raven's frustrated expression made Rin feel like she was the one in the wrong. It was so cute her hand wanted to pat it. Fortunately, unlike a certain blonde-haired woman, she knew what restraint was.

Instead, she expressed her apology, “Sorry.”

Raven, on the other hand, didn't care at all and just moved her hand to rearrange the chess pieces. “...Again.” -was the only word she expressed, making Rin inadvertently smile.

She nodded quietly and helped to place the chess pieces. The thought of purposefully losing crossed her mind but she decided against it, as it was... well, rude. Plus, giving her opponent an easy victory wouldn't be satisfying at all. To both of them.

“You two seem to be having fun, huh.” Lia said having approached them.

Rin twitched instantly, before giving a sideway glance at the blue-haired girl. Her smile vanished and her nervous expression soon replaced it.

She wasn't good around Lia. For many number of reasons.

First, because Lia knew Rin personally, she needed to constantly hide her identity since she was still a criminal. Second, the last time they saw each other they were enemies. And unfortunately, Rin didn't have the social skill to smooth over that. Lastly..... well, that's all.

“Speaking of which,” Lia said, taking a seat near Rin, well aware of the latter's state of mind. “I understand you don't want your identity revealed but, how shall we call you?”

Winter, who arrived shortly after, asked the same question.

“...” Stuck speechless, Rin had to take a moment to ponder over it.

However, with ‘princess’ being out of the question, she struggled to come up with a nickname. In the end, she came up with a simple one while praying it wouldn't link back to her real name.

“...Nir.” She pronounced with a quiet voice. “You can call me Nir.”

◇

The day advanced rapidly after that. Rin and Winter exchanged information with Raven and Lia. In return, the two formers were provided with better equipment such as battlesuits, swords, and such.

Slowly, everyone still presents in the city felt the tension increasing. Night arrived, hours passed but no one could sleep. They knew that, when the day would come, they could possibly die.

They knew the danger of fighting monsters way before this, of course, but this time was different. They would have to fight against a Red-level monster, the highest tier a monster could ever get.

Moreover, the lack of any Rank I Elite despite the menace unsettled them further. Although they were not aware of the existence of the Black level threat, they knew that something was amiss. An unknown variable that they couldn't change was at play.

Though, even for Rin, Winter, Lia, and Raven, who knew of the exact situation, nothing much could be changed. The continent faced great danger and unfortunately, all they could do was lower the chance of its destruction.

Then, finally, the day of the disaster arrived.